Printing machine



Dec. 12, 1933. I. T. NELSON PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet l l. T. NELSON 1,939,133

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 -r xmxm Dec. 12, 1933. l. T. NELSON 1,939,133

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 4, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 umu\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Ww 19 IWUGHZET: 3

Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 4, 1933, Serial No. 650,181, and in Great Britain April 1, 1932 7 Claims. (Cl. 101-386) This invention relates to printing machines and more particularly to book-printing machines and consists in improved means for registering the printing plates used in such machines.

The invention provides, inter alia, a construction which is characterized by its simplicity, which realizes substantial saving in the time expended in making ready, which permits the utilization of printing plates of the same size for the production of printed matter having different marginal dimensions, and which is readilyadjustable to suit different plate dimensions.

According to the invention series of plate-engaging clamps interposed between parallel rows of plates are guided for adjustment transversely of the rows of plates and adapted to clamp the plates in ready position under the action of end pressure interacting between the plate rows.

Plate-registering means according to the invention for a flat-bed printing machine is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1 and 2 together constitute a plan view, Fig. '1 showing one portion of the bed with the printing plates made ready thereon, and Fig. 2 showing the other portion of the bed without printing plates, in order more clearly to expose the constructional features of the bed; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of Fig. 1; Figs. 4-14 are fragmentary detail viewsdrawn to a larger scale, Fig. 4 being a section on the line a,a of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 a section on the line 27-41 of Fig. 1, Fig. 6 a section on the line cc of Fig. 1, the printing plate being omitted, Fig. 7 a section on the line cL-d of Fig. 1, Fig. 8 a plan view of Fig. '7, the printing plate being omitted, Fig. 9 a section .on the lines ee of Figs. 1 and 10, Fig. 10 a plan view of Fig. 9, Fig. 11 a section on the line J of Fig. 9, Fig. 12 a section on the lines g g of Figs. 1 and 13, Fig. 13 a section on the line h'h of Fig. 12, and Fig. 14 a section on the line :i.7 of Fig. 1; Fig. l5'is a fragmentary plan view showing a modification; Fig. 16 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section showing an alternative construction of bed.

Referring to Figs. 1-15 of the drawings, 1 denotes the printing plates which are registered by interposing them in rows between series of strip-like plate-engaging clamps 2 guided for adjustment transversely of the rows of plates 1 and adapted to clamp the plates. 1 in ready position under the action of end pressure interacting between th plate rows. V, I i

The printing plates 1 are deposited upon a bed proper built up upon the usual reciprocatory table 3 of a printing machine andrcomprising a 15111- rality of parallelly spaced bars 4 which form guide bars for the clamps 2 and extend longitudinally of the bed, i. e., in the line of travel T (Fig. 1) of the bed.

The clamps 2 are freely slidable longitudinally of the guide bars 4 which latter are conveniently of channel section, positioned web uppermost upon the table 3, being spaced apart only sufliciently' to provide clearance between the adjacent ends of adjacent clamps 2.

The clamps 2.are of inverted U-shape, as seen best in Fig. 6, so as to straddle the guide bars 4,inturned tongues 5 on the vertical limbs 6 of the clamps entering longitudinal grooves 7 formed in the flanges of the guide bar channels.

All the clamps 2 except the series at each end of the bed are beveled at both longitudinal edges 8 for engagement with the corresponding beveled edges 9 (Figs. 4 and 5) of the printing plates 1 and of distance pieces 10, 11 hereinafter referred to. The plate-engaging edges only of the clamps 2 adjacent to each end of the bed are beveled.

In making ready, the printing plates 1 are deposited upon the upper surfaces of the guide bars 4 in rows extending transversely of said guide bars, each row of plates 1 being interposed between two adjacent series of clamps 2 and the plates 1 constituting each row being spaced apart the requisite amount by interposed head and tail margin distance pieces 10 of less depth than the plates 1. Back and fore-edge margin distance pieces 11 dimensioned according to the spacing to be allowed between adjacent rows of plates 1 are interposed between adjacent series of clamps 2, said distance pieces 11 being deposited upon the upper surfaces of the guide bars 4 and presenting beveled edges for engagement by the adjacent beveled edges of the clamps 2. The distance pieces 11 are of necessity also of less depth than the plates 1.

In lieu of the distance pieces 11, distance piece slugs 12 (Fig; 15) may be located in the inter guide-bar slots.

The front marginal edges of the front row A of plates 1 are engaged by a first series of clamps 2 between which and a fixed abutment bar 13 extending transversely along the front of the bed distance piece slugs 14 (Figs. 1, 'l' and 8) are in terposed. The guide bars 4 stop short of the transverse abutment bar 13 so as to permit introduction of the clamps 2 on to the guide bars 4.

The rear marginal edges of the rearmost row B of plates 1 are engaged by the rearmost series of sure-bar comprising three sections 15 independently adjustable longitudinally of the bed and each operatively connected to pressureapplying means operable from the front end of the bed and including at each end of each pressure-bar section a nut 16 (Figs. 9-11) secured to the respective pressure-bar section and engaging the screw-threaded rear end 17 of a spindle 18 journalled and axially located within a guide bar 4 and presenting, at the front end of the bed, a polygonal end portion 19 for engagement by a manually operable key. In practice, both spindles 18 for each pressure-bar section 15 are rotated simultaneously so that the associated pressure-bar section 15 is displaced bodily without jamming to apply the requisite end pressure to effect locking or unlocking of the associated plate assembly. There is provided also for each pressure-bar section 15 a central spindle 18 the screw-threaded rear end portion 17 of which is engaged by a nut 20 (Figs. 12 and13) engageable with an abutment member 21 secured -to the pressure-bar section 15 and surrounding the screw 17. a

As will readily be understood, the arrangement I is'such that the central spindles 18 are operable independently of the associated side spindles 18, this provision being necessitated by the circum-- stance that an operative can ordinarily only'ro tate two spindles 18 at a time. In practice, after rotation of the side spindles 18 to lock up a plate assembly, the central spindle 18 is rotated to'bring the nut 20 into engagement with the abutment member 21 whereby to counteract tendency to bending of the associated pressure-bar section 15'.

The nuts 16 and abutment members 21 are each unitary with a tongue 22 (Figs.913) accommodated and slidable in a slot 23 formed longitudinally in the web of the respective guide bar 4 and secured by means of screws 24 to the underside 01' the respective pressure-bar section 15. Each tongue 22 presents an uprising shoulder 25 which engages a notch 26 in the pressure-bar section 15 and serves to relieve the screws 24 from shear stress. The nut 20 (Fig. 13) is rectangular in cross section and is guided for axialbut nonrotary movement within the guide bar l. The member 21 is undercut at 27 to accommodate the nut 20.

Slide blocks 28 (Figs. 1, 2 and 13) secured by means of screws 29 to the pressure-bar sections and depending into the inter-guide bar spaces present tongues 30 slidably engaging the grooves 7 in the guide bar flanges.

The width of each clamp 2, i. e., its dimension parallel with the guide bars4, is preferably equal to one half of the minimum required marginal space between adjacent rows of plates so that when adjacentclamps 2 of two adjacent series are brought into abutting relation without the interposition of distance pieces the marginal spacing between the plate rows is the required minimum. t

The upper surfaces of the frontand rear series of clamps 2 slope downwardly away from the plates 1 as shown .best in Figs. 7 and 9 so asto eliminate any possibility of the upper surfaces of these clamps fouling the grippers on the usual cylinder.

Experience having shown that, when made ready, the plates 1 are so positively interlocked- I pieces 10 when making ready, said temporary distance pieces being removed after the plates 1 are made ready;

Fig. 16 shows a possible variant in which the bed is of solid construction and has machined'on its upper face parallelly spaced clamp guides 31 8( being easily assembled on, or removable from, the

usual reciprocatory table of such machines.

When a bed of unitary construction is desired,

theform shown'i'n Fig. 16 may be adopted, thisconstruction being mountable on or de-mountable from the reciprocatory table, as a whole.

As will'be evident, in its broader aspects the invention is applicable also to rotary printing machines'in which segmental printing plates are used. I

What I claim is: 3

1. In a printing machine, a flat bed for, the reception of printing plates deposited thereon in' parallel rows, parallel series of plate-engaging clamps interposed between adjacent rows of plates, said clamps being slidably guided on said p bed for adjustment transversely of said rows of plates, a movable transverse pressure bar at one end of said bed, adapted to act on said plates and clamps, a fixed transverse abutment bar at the other end of said bed, adapted to act as an abutment for the plates and clamps, manually operable screw means for actuating said pressure bar to apply end pressure to said plates and clamps to clamp said plates to said bed, such end pressure interacting between said rows of plates, said screw means including screw-threaded spindles journalled in said bed, and nuts threaded on said spindles and attached to said pressure bar.

2. In a printing machine, a built-up flatbed presenting guideways and adapted for the reception of series of printing plates deposited thereon in parallel rows, said bed including parallel spaced bars extending transversely of said rows and formed with longitudinal grooves, parallel series of plate-engaging clamps interposed be tween adjacent rows of plates, said clamps slidably engaging said bars for adjustment transversely of said rows of. plates, said clamps being each of inverted U-shape and formed with tongues engaging said grooves, and means for transmitting pressure. in a direction parallel to said bars through the entire series of plates and their clamps whereby to lock said series of plates to said bed.

- 3. In a printing machine, a flatbed presenting guideways and adapted forv the reception of series of printing plates deposited on'said bed in parallel rows transverse to said guideways, parallel series of plate-engaging clamps interposed between adjacent rows of plates, said clamps being guidedin said guideways for adjustment transversely of said rows of plates, a movable transverse pressure bar at one end of said bed, a fixed transverse abutment at the opposite end of said bed, and screw means extending from said bar to said abutment and operative to transmit pressure in the direction parallel to said guideways through the entire series of plates and their clamps whereby to lock said series of plates to said bed.

4. In a printing machine, a surface presenting guideways and adapted for the reception of series of printing plates deposited on said surface in parallel rows transverse to said guideways, parallel series of plate-engaging clamps interposed between adjacent rows of plates, said clamps being guided in said guideways for adjustment transversely of said rows of plates, screw spindles arranged beneath said clamps and extending longitudinally of said surfaces, and transverse pressure plate sections having nuts engaged by said spindles, said spindles and pressure plate sections serving as means for transmitting pressure through an entire series of plates and their clamps in any given guideway, whereby simultaneously to lock said plates to said surface.

5. In a printing machine, a bed formed with longitudinal guideways and adapted for the reception of series of printing plates deposited on said bed in parallel rows transverse to said guideways, parallel series of strip-like plate-engaging clamps interposed between adjacent rows of plates, said clamps being guided in said guideways for adjustment transversely of said rows of plates, longitudinally extending screw spindles arranged beneath said clamps and plates, and pressure plate sections having nuts engaged by said spindles, said spindles and pressure plate sections serving as means for transmitting pressure in the longitudinal direction of said bed through the entire series of plates and clamps, whereby to lock said series of plates to the surface of said bed.

6. In a printing machine, a built-up bed for the reception of series of printing plates de posited thereon in parallel rows, said bed includ ing parallel spaced barsextending transversely of said rows, parallel series of plate-engaging clamps interposed between adjacent rows of plates, said clamps slidably engaging said bars for adjustment transversely of said rows, longitudinally extending screw spindles arranged beneath said clamps and plates, and pressure plate sections having nuts engaged by said spindles, said spindles and pressure plate sections serving as means for transmitting pressure in a direction parallel to said bars through the entire series of plates and their clamps, whereby to lock said series of plates to said bed.

'7. In a printing machine a bed formed with longitudinal guideways and adapted for the reception of series of printing plates deposited on said bed in parallel rows transverse to said guideways, parallel series of plate-engaging clamps interposed between adjacent rows of plates, screw spindles beneath said clamps and plates, and pressure plate sections having nuts engaged by said spindles, said spindles and pressure plate sections serving as means for transmitting pressure in a direction parallel to said guideways through the entire series of plates and their clamps, whereby to lock said series of plates to the surface of said bed.

IAN THEODORE NELSON. 

